More than ten years ago, Austin heart surgeon Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt joined friends Ray Wilkerson and Jim Hoover to create the HeartGift Foundation, which provides life-saving heart surgery to children from developing countries. Since then HeartGift has helped 100 children from 20 countries.

More than ten years ago, Austin heart surgeon, Dr. John “Chip” Oswalt, joined his friends Ray Wilkerson and Jim Hoover to create the HeartGift Foundation. The organization provides life-saving heart surgery to children from developing countries, ensuring patient’s families do not pay a penny when they travel to the United States for free medical care.Since its inception, HeartGift has helped 100 children from 20 countries, including: Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, and Syria.In 2009, children benefiting from HeartGift surgeries received medical care averaging $136,000 per child. HeartGift received more than $2 million worth of donated medical services last year.The HeartGift Foundation has now grown to include chapters in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans, and another chapter is set to launch in Dallas.

RecognizeGood: THE Foundation (commonly known as simply RecognizeGood) is a local nonprofit that provides a means for individuals, businesses and other nonprofits to illuminate selfless volunteers, charitable acts and community service throughout the greater Austin area. There are several active RecognizeGood programs that work toward this mission from different angles, but the common theme is simple – the illumination of GOOD in our community.